Crime fears in Headford as Garda car is removed

By TOM GILMORE THE elderly and others living alone are fearful of a rise in crime and more break-ins to their homes, especially in isolated areas, as Headford Garda Station has its Garda patrol car removed in the latest Government cutbacks.[private] Community activists are angry that this latest cutback comes in the wake of the recent closure of the Garda station in Corrandulla and a source at the Headford Solas Family Resource Centre, says they will be raising the matter at their next board meeting. 'We are very surprised to hear of this cutback and not alone will it be a cause of fear for the elderly, but it is also a worry for all people living alone. 'This means that the nearest Garda patrol car will now have to come from Tuam or Galway city or Ballinrobe. But we already know that the hours Ballinrobe Garda station operate have been cut,' said the Solas source who did not want to be named. Local Councillor Mary Hoade said she was shocked to hear that Headford had lost its Garda patrol car and she will be lobbying to have it restored. 'It is simply not on that a Garda area that is so geographically large would be left without a Garda car based here. 'If there was a crime taking place and a Garda car had to come from Tuam or Glenamaddy or Galway the criminals could be half way to Dublin by the time the patrol car would arrive from one of those areas,' says Cllr Hoade. 'I was not aware that Headford was losing its patrol car. As recently as last spring I raised the matter of keeping patrol cars based in rural stations at a General Policing Meeting (GPC) of Galway Co Council, when a question was raised about the removal of the patrol car from Corofin,' she added. Cllr Hoade also said that she was told at the time that while some patrol cars were being recalled after they had passed a certain mileage, it was hoped that some of those cars would then be deployed to rural areas where they might not have to be used as frequently. 'It is unacceptable that this area should lose its Garda patrol car and I will be raising this matter at the next GPC meeting. 'The Gardai do a good job in this area, augmented by an active community alert. But while a good community alert system is vital in any rural area it is still no substitute for Gardai in a patrol car, especially in such a large area as Headford,' said Cllr Hoade. The Solas source said that the matter will be raised at the first meeting of the board of management after the summer holidays on Tuesday September 4. 'We hope that the service of a Garda car, based in our town, will be restored to this area,' said the Solas source. Local people are annoyed that this latest cutback is happening in Headford at a time when there is a new Garda headquarters in the pipeline for Galway city and when criminals have been increasingly targeting homes in more isolated rural areas. The Headford community prides itself on having a very successful phone call initiative, manned by volunteers for those living alone. The Solas Centre operates this service in the area and volunteers and management there are angered by the latest Garda cutback. 'We have six trained volunteers operating out of the former priest's residence in Corner Chapel. As we speak today two of those are busy this (Tuesday) morning phoning those living alone. 'Two more volunteers will be doing the same task on Thursday and while we are here to give this service to the community it is unacceptable that the Garda resources for this area are being cut,' said the Solas source. The Solas initiative, titled Good Morning Headford, Caherlistrane and Shrule, was launched in September 2010 when six volunteers were trained by the HSE to make the calls to the elderly and those living alone every Tuesday and Thursday. It has worked very well, the volunteers enjoy providing the service and it means that the elderly and those living alone may feel less isolated due to this telephone befriending service. The volunteers work on a rota basis and two new phone lines were installed in the former priest's residence in September 2010 for the service. The Headford Solas Centre was influenced to put the service in place after seeing similar initiatives working successfully in various areas of Mayo, especially in Claremorris and Belmullet, under the auspices of the Befriending Mayo organisation. People can be referred to the service by a family member, by self-referral or by a person working with a health or social services organisation.[/private]